Does Long Hair Still Mean Empowerment? - The History Of The “Long Hair Perceptio

Remember the very first time when your mom felt that you had ‘come of age’, and she finally used the hot comb to straighten your natural locks?

This was like exploring brand new territory or completing your initiation into womanhood. That was much different from the days when we draped towels over our head, pretending it was free swinging hair.

With that fresh press, you simply couldn’t pass a shiny surface without checking yourself out; which warranted such comments from mom like, “don’t forget how to act now”, or “stop swinging your head or I’ll put the braids back in!”

I was nine when my mom did my first press and curl. When she showed me the final results – long black tresses that came to the middle of my back – I was in awe. In my mind I was thinking, “now why can’t I have hair like this all the time?”.

Needless to say, those awesome results floated away like dust in the wind. Halfway through the day my hair was back to defying gravity again. It started to frizz during second period, and by third period (I had gym) all bets were off.

It didn’t help my self esteem when a few of my teachers gave me the stank eye and some friends asked, “What happened to your hair?” And no, I didn’t even have hair ties* at the time.

I don’t even think I was skilled enough back then to secure my hair in those little bong-bongs anyway. Seriously, I wish mom had given me some bobby pins* and hair ties*. I recall going into the bathroom and trying to “flatten my hair.”

Looking back, I can remember feeling embarrassed of my hair in its natural state; due to the fact that I was always told my hair was ‘bad’ or ‘nappy,’ or ‘You’re not going anywhere with me with your head looking like ‘that!’ I’m sure we’ve all been there.

What about more recent events in life when maybe your hairstylist suggested you trim ¼ of an inch off your completely dead ends; then you totally freak because it looks as though they took off 5 inches.

It could be because your perspective of measurement is distinctively different when dealing with hair length, or maybe your stylist is just plain scissor happy. Either way, there is definitely a long-lived obsession with long hair. But where did it come from?

It is possible that the perception of value attached to long hair came from the Native American, centuries ago. The original Americans, who grew long locks down to their tailbones, didn’t cut their hair because they believed their strength derived from the length.

It is also a possibility that this mindset was adopted from the legacy of Sampson and Delilah; a perfect example of believing strength and power lies within the hair. Sampson had lengthy hair and was a strong individual, until Delilah cut it, then he became weak. Within this story, Sampson’s hair represented power; and in some cases, this stands true today.

In addition to power and strength, maybe long hair had much to do with a heightened confidence level due to the sensation of sexuality and desire.

This now draws attention to the notion that women with long hair tend to attract a wide array of men, enabling the woman to quite possibly feel “empowered” through her sexuality. Assess this concept for yourself.

Do you know anyone who has undergone transforming her look from short to long hair by either, the natural process of growth or the use of a weave* or extensions*? Did you notice a change in her confidence level when men were around? 

We have to admit this is still relevant today, long hair does in fact give some of us an air of sexy and a moment or two of power. This is even true for guys coming up who have been groomed to believe that a girl is pretty because she has long hair. (I know you have heard a little boy say that at least one time in your life)

It is pretty much common knowledge that in our quest for acceptance by men, we as women tend to play into the stereotype and want to become the object of their desires; even through our hair length.

Most often, men are more attracted to women with longer hair because they have quite possibly associated longer hair with sophistication, fragility and other similar feminine qualities; totally opposite from themselves.

I discovered this concept in an old January issue of Men’s Health Magazine. The interviewer: “So, if a woman has short hair, does that automatically take her off a guy’s radar?” The man’s response: “She had her hair cut short and a guy friend told her she was no longer on men’s radar. She was freaking out!!” The actress these men were speaking of is Natalie Portman.

Over the years long hair has represented power, beauty and sexuality as the media has, more often than not, portrayed Caucasian and African American women alike with long, shiny, flowing hair with ‘flippage’ abilities.

You know those infamous shampoo and conditioner commercials where the women are flipping their hair at every angle! Well, they will likely continue promoting long hair to represent certain attributes, but we don’t have to play into that.

I would say healthy hair is power, beauty and sexuality regardless of the length. These days women are celebrating who they are at any length, a pixie cut can bring anyone to their knees. The question we have remains:  is long hair still as empowering as it once was?